--- title: "A Thousand Blows: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/a-thousand-blows/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/a-thousand-blows" critics_score: 82 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # A Thousand Blows (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 82 from 12 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find A Thousand Blows an engrossing, violent period drama, with praise concentrated on its ensemble and its depiction of Victorian London. Erin Doherty’s Mary Carr draws the most consistent attention, while Kirby and Graham also receive strong notices. The boxing scenes, detailed setting and interwoven criminal stories supply much of the entertainment. Several reviews also credit the series with giving class, race and survival substantial attention alongside the fighting and scheming. The reservations concern how well those stories hold together. Even favourable reviews note heavy exposition, uneven pacing and subplots that struggle for space; some find the plotting conventional despite the lively performances. The spread runs from emphatic enthusiasm to qualified approval, with Collider offering the clearest dissent: it finds the series unfocused and the Forty Elephants’ story insufficiently developed. Praise for the cast remains common ground even where confidence in the storytelling weakens. ## The Telegraph — Benji Wilson Rating 5/5. 21 February 2025. The critic says it may be Steven Knight’s best yet, a brutal but blockbuster drama that crackles with nefarious possibility. They single out Erin Doherty’s star-making turn as Mary Carr. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/02/17/a-thousand-blows-disney-review/) ## The Times — Carol Midgley Rating ★★★★★. 21 February 2025. The critic finds it rollickingly good and very moreish despite the violence. They single out Erin Doherty’s captivating performance as the queen of the Forty Elephants. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/a-thousand-blows-review-erin-doherty-disney-3pff7kn9c) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 January 2026. The critic finds season 2 a brisk, pulpy, and enthusiastically engrossing ride full of twists, heists, and strong characterizations that deliver adrenaline and entertainment. Narrative inconsistencies and lack of depth are acknowledged but do not detract from the overall enjoyment. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/a-thousand-season-2-tv-review.html) ## The AV Club — Christina Izzo Rating B+. 17 February 2025. The series is a promising Victorian-era bare-knuckle boxing drama from the Peaky Blinders creator, with strong performances and vibrant fight scenes that capture the grit of East End London. It excels in its heavyweight ensemble and detailed world-building but is weighed down by heavy exposition and some sidelined subplots. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/a-thousand-blows-review-tv-hulu) ## Radio Times — Morgan Cormack Rating 4/5. 17 February 2025. The critic praises it as a rich and immersive world that stands on its own, highlighting the seamless intersection of stories and Erin Doherty's knockout performance as Mary Carr. They note it uses boxing to comment on class, gender, race, with some pacing issues but overall gripping. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/a-thousand-blows-disney-plus-review/) ## Empire — Nicola Austin Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 February 2025. Positive take on Knight's historical drama, excellent lead performances especially Kirby and Graham, gripping plot and historical setting; notes it can feel unwieldy with many storylines but packs a punch. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/a-thousand-blows/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2025. Entertaining if conventional; blends genres effectively but becomes conventional; excellent performances, well-produced, inspires further research. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/a-thousand-blows-review-steven-knight-hulu-1236140448/) ## Evening Standard — Adam Bloodworth 17 February 2025. The critic calls it a fantastically entertaining stew that is chaotic and gruesome. They single out Erin Doherty’s complete shape-shift as Mary Carr as the standout reason to watch. [Read the review](https://standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/a-thousand-blows-disney-review-steven-knight-b1211226.html) ## The Guardian 21 February 2025. The critic calls it a hugely fun journey into Victorian bare-knuckle fighting and a ripping yarn full of audacious dialogue. They single out the mesmerising performance of Erin Doherty as gang leader Mary Carr. [Read the review](https://theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/feb/21/a-thousand-blows-review-the-irresistible-new-boxing-drama-from-the-peaky-blinders-creator) ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu 21 February 2025. The critic calls the series masterful and an intricate, fast-paced period drama about ambition, desire, and violence in 1880s London, centered on Jamaican immigrants, the Forty Elephants gang, and a ruthless East End boxer. It praises the show for delving into the era’s texture while exploring racism, sexism, greed, and revenge through compelling outsiders. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/a-thousand-blows-review-hulu-1236312075/) ## Paste — Lacy Baugher Milas Rating 8.8/10. 19 February 2025. The critic praises the gritty, modern-feeling Victorian drama for its visceral boxing, strong character work (especially Erin Doherty), diverse cast, and thoughtful exploration of class, race, and survival themes in a changing London. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/hulu/a-thousand-blows-review) ## Digital Spy — Janet A Leigh Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 January 2026. The critic calls season 2 darker and grittier yet even better, with compelling performances (especially Graham and Doherty) and a richer, more grounded narrative that builds on season 1's strengths. It is described as unmissable with strong consequences and levity in the right places. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a69946847/thousand-blows-season-2-review/) ## /Film — Jeremy Mathai Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 March 2025. The piece hails the series as a thrilling, well-crafted follow-up in the vein of Peaky Blinders, praising its fresh take on similar material, strong ensemble, and exploration of class, race, and survival in 1880s London. [Read the review](https://slashfilm.com/1801638/hulu-series-peaky-blinders-fans-need-watch-a-thousand-blows) ## NME — Gary Ryan Rating 4/5. 20 February 2025. The critic finds the Victorian boxing drama a rollicking success that is much more than a Peaky Blinders retread, praising its blend of historical stories, strong performances (especially Erin Doherty), lavish production, and social themes around class, race, and survival. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/a-thousand-blows-review-stephen-graham-steven-knight-3838547) ## Collider — Maggie Boccella Rating 6/10. 17 February 2025. The review calls the series a competent but unfocused period piece that fails to pack the same punch as Peaky Blinders, criticizing its lack of narrative focus on the Forty Elephants and incomplete storytelling while noting strong lead performances and diversity. [Read the review](https://collider.com/a-thousand-blows-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/a-thousand-blows.md